New homeowner maintenance — what to do first
In your first week, do the safety and orientation items: test every smoke and CO alarm, find and label the main water shutoff, the gas shutoff, and the breaker panel, and change the locks. Then set up the recurring tasks that prevent big bills — HVAC filters, gutters, dryer vent, water heater. The checklist below marks the safety-critical items and how often each task is due, with sources.
| Task | How often | Why |
|---|---|---|
| safetyTest every smoke and CO alarm; note each unit's date and replace any over 10 years old | First week, then test monthly | Detectors are your first warning for fire and CO; units expire at 10 years |
| safetyLocate and label the main water shutoff, gas shutoff, and breaker panel | First week | In a leak, gas smell, or electrical fault you need to act in seconds |
| safetyChange the locks / rekey exterior doors | First week | You don't know who has old keys |
| Change or clean the HVAC filter and set a reminder | Every 1–3 months | A clean filter protects the system and cuts energy use |
| Clean the gutters and downspouts | Twice a year (spring & fall) | Overflow drives water into the basement and fascia |
| safetyClean the dryer vent (not just the lint trap) | At least yearly | Lint buildup is the leading cause of dryer fires |
| Flush the water heater to clear sediment | Yearly | Sediment cuts capacity and shortens tank life |
| Have HVAC professionally serviced | Yearly (cooling in spring, heating in fall) | Catches problems before peak season |
Why the first-week items are safety, not chores
The four first-week tasks all share a theme: when something goes wrong, you won't have time to figure them out. Knowing where the water main is turns a burst pipe from a flood into a puddle. A tested CO alarm is the only warning you'll get for an odorless gas. Do these before you unpack the kitchen.
When to call a professional
- • Any task involving gas, the electrical panel, or roof access you're not equipped for.
- • An HVAC or water-heater problem you can't diagnose from the basics — see the linked diagnostic pages.
Common questions
- How much should I budget for maintenance?
- A common planning rule is 1% of the home's value per year (or about $1 per square foot), set aside for upkeep and repairs. It's a rough guide, not a guarantee.
- What's the single most-skipped task?
- Dryer-vent cleaning — people clean the lint trap but not the vent duct, which is the actual fire risk.
Sources
- Replace smoke alarms at least every 10 years from the date of manufacture — including 10-year-battery and hardwired units. Tier 2 (standards/extension)estimate · has commercial bias
First Alert (citing NFPA) · verified 2026-07-26 - Test smoke alarms monthly. Tier 2 (standards/extension)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) · verified 2026-07-26 - Inspect central AC/furnace filters monthly; replace 1-inch filters every 1–3 months and thicker media filters every 6–12 months. Tier 1 (official)
ENERGY STAR (EPA/DOE) · verified 2026-07-26 - Clean gutters twice a year (spring and fall); more often under heavy tree cover. Tier 3 (industry estimate)estimate · has commercial bias
Angi · verified 2026-07-26 - Clean the dryer vent at least once a year (every 6 months for heavy use) to reduce fire risk. Tier 2 (standards/extension)
NFPA (via NPS) · verified 2026-07-26 - Flush the water heater annually (more often with hard water) to clear sediment. Tier 2 (standards/extension)
InterNACHI · verified 2026-07-26